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TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
EXPERIMENT STATION
AT THE
Kansas State Agricultural College.
FOR FISCAL YEAR 1898-’99
M ANHATTAN , KANSAS.
1900.
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K ANSAS S TATE A GRICULTURAL C OLLEGE ,
M ANHATTAN , KAN., January 29, 1900.
To his Excellency W. E. Stanley, Governor of Kansas:
DEAR SIR —I herewith transmit, as required by act of Congress
approved March 7, 1887, the Twelfth Annual Report of the Experiment
Station of the Kansas State Agricultural College, for the year ending
June 30, 1899, including the financial statement for that period.
Respectfully,
E. R. NICHOLS,
Secretary Board of Regents.
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KANSAS STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
Beginning
of term
BOARD OF REGENTS, 1898-’99.
H O N. E. T. FAIRCHILD, President . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ellsworth, Ellsworth county.
H O N. J. S. McDOWELL, Vice-president . . . . . . . . .
Smith Center, Smith county.
HoN. W. T. YOE, Treasurer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Independence, Montgomery county.
H O N. WM. HUNTER, Loan Commissioner . . . . . . . .
Blue Rapids, Marshall county.
MRS. SUSAN J. ST. JOHN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Olathe, Johnson county.
H ON . CARL VROOMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parsons, Labette county
H O N. J. M. SATTERTHWAITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Douglass, Butler county.
H ON . C. B. HOFFMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Enterprise, Dickinson county.
H ON . J. N. LIMBOCKER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Manhattan, Riley county.
H ON . T. J. HUDSON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fredonia, Wilson county.
H ON . GEO. M. MUNGER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Eureka, Greenwood county.
H ON . WM. H. PHIPPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Belleville, Republic county.
Expiration
of term
Apr. 1, ’99.
Mar. 31, ’03.
May 4, ’99.
Mar. 31, ’01.
May 4, ’99.
Mar. 31, ’01.
Apr. 1, ’99.
Mar. 31, ’03.
Apr. 1, ’97.
Mar. 31, ’01.
Jan. 7, ’99,
Mar. 31, ’01.
Apr. 1, ’99.
Mar. 31, ’03.
Apr. 1, ’94.
May 4, ’99.
Apr. 1, ’97.
May 4, ’99.
Apr. 1, ’97.
Mar. 31, ’99.
Aug. — ’97.
Jan. 6, ’99.
May — ’98.
Feb. 8, ’99.
PRES. T H O M A S E. W I L L , Secretary officio
EXPERIMENT STATION STAFF.
( Departments are arranged in alphabetical order.)
COUNCIL.
THOS, E. WILL, A. M.,
Chairman ex officio.
H. M. COTTRELL, M. S.,
Agriculturist.
A. S. HITCHCOCK, M. S.,
Botanist.
J. T, WILLARD, M. S.,
Chemist.
E. E. FAVILLE, M. S, A.,
(Until December 31, 1898,)
Horticulturist and Entomologist.
P A U L F I S C H E R , B . A G R., M. V. D.,
Veterinarian.
W. H. P H I P P S , B. S., Secretary.
ASSISTANTS.
F.C. BURTIS, M.S.* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant in Feeding and Field Work.
J.C. HANEY B.S.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Acting Assistant in Feeding and Field Work.
D.H. OTIS,. M.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant in Dairying.
GEO .L. CLOTHIER., M.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Botanist.
ROBERT. W. CLOTHIER,. M.S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Chemist.
PERCY J. PARROTT, A.M.†. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Entomologist.
WM. L. HALL, M.S. †. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Horticulturist.
C.W. PAPE, M.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant in Veterinary Department.
*Absent on leave since January, 1899.
†In charge of the Entomological Department since January, 1899.
†In charge of the Horticultural Departmeut since January, 1899.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Letter of Transmittal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ii
List of Regents and Station Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
iii
Financial Statements:
Report of the Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
v
Report of the Secretary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
vi
Expenditures by Departments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Supplementary Statement of the Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Report of the Council:
Outline of Bulletins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Press Bulletins, Mimeograph Bulletins, and Weather Reports . . . . . . . . . . . .
List of Press Bulletins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ix
x
xi
Other Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
xii
The Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
xv
General Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xv
Previous Publications of the Station. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvii
Index to Bulletins 81 to 89 and Annual Report. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1—4
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EXPERIMENT STATION
OF THE
KANSAS STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE,
MANHATTAN.
TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT—FISCAL YEAR 1898-’99.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
Report of the Treasurer.
(July 1, 1898, to May 13, 1899.)
To the Board of Regents of the Kansas State Agricultural College:
G ENTLEMEN --Herewith is submitted my report of receipts and
expenditures on account of the Experiment Station for the period
between July 1, 1898, and May 13, 1899:
Received from the treasurer of the United States.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,000.00
313.00
Received from cash sales of products.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,313.30
Approved vouchers Nos. 1 to 342, including credits.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11,168.74
Balance as shown by Secretary's record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,144.56
Unpaid vouchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $987.97
793.75
March and April cash in Secretary’s hands.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194.22
Paid to W. T. Yoe, Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,938.31
C. B. HOFFMAN , Treasurer.
Report of the Treasurer.
( May 13, 1899, to June 30, 1899.)
To the Board of Regents of the Kansas State Agricultural College:
G E N T L E M E N — Herewith please find a report of my expenditures
and receipts on account of the Experiment Station for the period
between May 13 and June 30, 1899:
Received from C. B. Hoffman, ex-Treasurer, cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,938.31
Received from C. B. Hoffman, ex-Treasurer, unpaid vouchers, $987.97
March and April cash in College Secretary's hands . . . . 194.22
793.75
Balance as shown by Secretary’s record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$4,144.56
Received from cash sale of products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
400.13
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,544.69
Paid approved vouchers Nos. 343 to 456 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4,544.69
W. T. YOE , Treasurer.
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Financial Statements.
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Report of the Secretary.
To the Board of Regents of the Kansas State Agricultural College:
GENTLEMEN —Herewith is submitted the following report of the
financial affairs of the Experiment Station of the Kansas State Agricultural College for the year ending June 30, 1899, as prepared under
directions from the United States Department of Agriculture. The
several items of this account are covered by vouchers approved by
the disbursing officer, certified by the Secretary, and allowed by the
President and the Board of Regents:
Experiment Station, Kansas State Agricultural College, in account with
the United States appropriation, 1898–’99:
DR.
To receipts from the treasurer of the United States as per appropriation for fiscal year ending June 30, 1899, as per act of congress approved March 2, 1887 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,000.00
C R.
By salaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Labor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Postage and stationery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Freight and express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. $7,044.22
. 2,499.30
. 1,994.40
139.60
.
76.04
.
29.73
83.25
Chemical supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
288.13
Seeds, plants, and sundry supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
258.67
Feeding stuff s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
161.15
Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
126 83
Tools: implements, and machinery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Furniture and fixtures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217.83
665.13
Scientific apparatus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1,029.88
Live stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
207.13
Traveling expenses.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . ......
18.63
Contingent expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Building and repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160.08
. . .. . . .
. . . . . .
.......
.......
. . . . . .
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,000.00
We, the undersigned, duly appointed auditors of the corporation,
do hereby certify that we have examined the books and accounts of
the Experiment Station, Kansas State Agricultural College, for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1899; that we have found the same well
kept and classified as above, and that the receipts for the year from
the treasurer of the United States are shown to have been $15,000,
and the corresponding disbursements $15,000; for all of which proper
vouchers are on file and have been by us examined and found correct,
thus leaving no balance.
And we further certify, that the expenditures have been solely for
the purposes set forth in the act of congress approved March 2, 1887.
J. S. MC D OWELL ,
(Signed)
E. T. FAIRCHILD ,
[ SEAL .]
W. T. YO E,
Auditors.
A TTEST : E. R. NICHOLS , Custodian,
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Financial Statements.
[XII An. Rep.
Supplementary Statement.
D R.
To receipts from other sources than the United States for the year ending June 30, 1899: Farm and garden products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$713.43
C R.
Labor . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $348.76
185.32
Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.62
Postage and stationery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25.99
Freight and express.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
49.31
Seeds, plants, and sundry supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
42.84
Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .
58.59
Traveling expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . $713.43
Respectfully submitted.
LORENA E. CLEMONS .
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REPORT OF THE COUNCIL.
To the Board of Regents of the Kansas State Agricultural College:
G ENTLEMEN —We present, as required by law, the following outline of the Station work for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1899,
leaving all detailed statements for bulletins already issued or to be
issued on completion of experiments already under way.
An annual report and nine bulletins, covering 254 pages of valuable information, have been published, in editions as follows:
No. 81 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33,000 copies. No. 86 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,000 copies.
No. 87 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,000 “
No. 82 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,000 “
No. 88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,000 “
No. 83 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,000 “
No. 89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,000 “
No. 84 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,000 “
Eleventh Annual Report, 1,500 “
No. 85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15,000 “
The subjects treated are shown in the following:
Outline of Bulletins.
B ULLETIN 81. September, 1898. Farm Department. 38 pp.
Feed and Care of the Dairy Cow.— Gives information in regard to fall calving; treatment of the cow before, at and after calving; best conditions for milk
production; composition of the feed; succulence; variety; appetizing rations;
feeding for quality of butter; 100 rations; feeding the individual; feeding to de
velop; value of the different feeds; buying feed; summer feeding; water; shelter, comfort, and kindness; salt; keeping records: individual cows.
B ULLETIN 82. January, 1899. Horticultural and Entomological
Department. 13 pp.
The Potato-stalk Weevil.— Giving a description of the food plants, habits
and distribution of the weevil, and an account of the methods of controlling it.
A number of plates illustrate the various stages of the insect and the plants
upon which it subsists.
B ULLETIN 83. April, 1899. Chemical Department. 16 pp.
Sugar Beets. —This bulletin gives the results of analyses of sugar beets in
1898, and includes a special study of them to ascertain the influence of locality,
size of beets, thickness of planting, conditions of soil and culture, time of planting, and date of harvesting.
B ULLETIN 84, April, 1899. Horticultural and Entomological Department. 31 pp.
Cold Storage for Fruit.— A description of methods of refrigeration of storage houses, with plans for a farm cold storage building, employing ice for the
maintenance of the low temperature. Results are given on apples, pears, peaches
plums, grapes, tomatoes, and cucumbers, kept at various temperatures in the
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Report of the Council.
[XII An. Rep.
storage houses of Topeka and Kansas City. Methods of picking, packing and
shipping fruit for cold storage are discussed, as Well as matters anent the production of fruit of such quality as will keep well in cold storage.
B ULLETIN 85. April, 1899. Botanical and Farm Departments.
16 pp.
Investigations of the Growth of A Alfalfa in Kansas. — Gives interviews
with leading Kansas alfalfa growers; feeding value of alfalfa; pasturing alfalfa;
failure to get a stand; favorable conditions of growth; feeding notes.
B ULLETIN 86. June, 1899. All departments. Comprises Press
Bulletins Nos. 1 to 34. 62 pp. ( See below. )
B ULLETIN 87. April, 1899. Botanical Department. 30 pp.
Native Agricultural Grasses of Kansas. — Contains descriptions of twentynine species of forage grasses, accompanied by maps showing distribution in the
state, and cuts of most of the species, illustrating the habit of the plant.
B ULLETIN 88. May, 1899. Farm Department. 8 pp.
Keeping Milk in Summer. — Describes structure of a cheap milk house and
cheap methods of handling milk which enabled the College dairy to deliver milk
in good condition forty-eight hours old to the Manhattan creamery during the
hot weather of July and August.
B ULLETIN 89. June, 1899. Chemical Department. 22 pp.
Soil Moisture. — This bulletin details experiments extending through two
years in respect to the influence of fertilizers on the moisture of soils in pots and
in plats; also the effect of various kinds of tillage on the conservation of soil
moisture.
Press Bulletins, 1898-’99, Mimeograph Bulletins, and
Weather Reports.
In addition to the regular bulletins outlined above, the Station has
issued forty-five press bulletins. This is a new feature, the first one
being printed in August, 1898. These bulletins are designed to be
brief, timely and readable expositions of topics which may not yet be
fully worked out for publication in a regular bulletin, or may be too
fragmentary for that form, or they may summarize in a popular way a
more extensive publication; in general, they embody results of our
own experimentation, though at times containing other pertinent
matter. These press bulletins have been sent to the newspapers of
the state and to many outside of the state, and have been received
with much favor; a number of them have been sent to our entire
mailing list. The interest in them and their value seemed to warrant
putting them in more permanent form, and the first thirty-four have
been collected, and reprinted as Bulletin 86. A complete list, with
the name of the department issuing each, is subjoined.
A large number of short articles or paragraphs, consisting of mat-
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Report of the Council.
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ter similar to the press bulletins, have been multiplied by means of
the mimeograph, and distributed to a selected list of the agricultural
papers of the country. They have been used with a freedom very
gratifying to their authors, but due credit is not always given to the
Station.
A monthly summary of the weather, including a comparison with
the record for the preceding forty years, and general averages for fortyone years, has also been issued. This has been prepared by Prof. E.
R. Nichols, of the Department of Physics, and has been furnished
the press the next day after the completion of the month.
LIST OF PRESS BULLETINS.
Department
No.
Title.
1. Wheat Experiments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Farm.
2. Keeping Milk in Hot Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farm.
3. The Fringed-wing Apple-bud Moth . . . . . . .Horticulture and
4. Soil Moisture and Soil Stirring. . . . . . . . . . . . .Chemical.
5. Blackleg* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Veterinary.
6. The Sand Plum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Horticulture and
7. Kafir-corn for Fattening Pigs *.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farm.
8. Some Reasons why Fruit Does not Set . . . . . . .Botanical.
9. The Peach Twig-borer* . . . . . . . . . . . . . Horticulture and
10. Fall Preparation for Alfalfa Seeding *. . . . . . . .Farm.
11. Celery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Horticulture and
12. The Balanced Ration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Farm.
13. Seed Breeding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Botinical.
14. The Fruit-tree Bark-beetle. . . . . . . . . . . . .Horticulture and
15. Kansas Sugar Beets for 1898 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chemical.
16. Actinomycosis (Lump-jaw, Big-jaw). . . . . . . . . Veterinary.
17. Hardy Ornamental Shrubs . . . . . . . . . .Horticulture and
18. Notes on Weeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Botanical.
19. The Potato-stalk Weevil . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Horticulture and
20. Possibilities in Corn Improvement . . . . . . . . . .Chemical.
21. Winter Protection of Peach Buds . . . . . . . Horticulture and
22. Grazing Grasses of Western Kansas . . . . . . . . . . .Botanical.
23. The Spring Canker-worm . . . . . . . . . . .Horticulture and
24. A New Crop for Kansas Farmers (Soy-beans). .F a r m .
25. Alfalfa Hay for Fattening Hogs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F a r m .
26. Toenia fimbriata (Fringed Tape-worm) . . . . . Veterinary.
27. Sugar Beet Experiments for 1899 . . . . . . . . . . . . Chemical.
28. Treatment of Winter-injured Trees . . . . . . . .Horticulture and
29. Milking Scrub Cows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Farm.
30. Lice on Animals* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Veterinary.
31. Potato Scab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Botanical.
32. Blackleg (A)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Veterinary.
33. Blackleg (B)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Veterinary.
34. Get Ready for the Drought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farm.
35. Dysentery in Calves and Other Young Animals, Veterinary.
36. Experiments with Swine-plague or Hog-cholera, Veterinary.
*Out of print.
issuing.
Entomology.
Entomology.
Entomology.
Entomology.
Entomology.
Entomology.
Entomology.
Entomology.
Entomology.
Entomology.
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[XII An. Rep.
Title.
Department
No.
37. Kafir-corn, Alfalfa Hay and Soy-beans for
Pork*.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farm.
33. What is a Digestion Experiment? . . . . . . . . . . . Chemical.
39. Skim-milk Calves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Farm.
40. Orchard Cultivation * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Horticulture and
41. Digestion Experiment with Alfalfa Hay. . . . . . Chemical.
42. To Rid the House of Flies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Horticulture and
43. Selection of Seed Wheat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Botanical.
44. The Profitable Strawberry Bed . . . . . . . . . . Horticulture and
45. Early Plowing and Moisture Conservation. . . . Chemical.
issuing
Entomology.
Entomology.
Entomology.
Other Work.
F ARM D EPARTMENT .—The chief line of work for the year in the
Farm Department has been the production of drought-resisting crops
and the developing of best methods of feeding these crops for the
production of beef, milk, and pork. Kafir-corn, soy beans and alfalfa
have been the crops experimented with. We have had good success
in developing a practical field method for inoculating the soil with
the root-tubercle-forming microbes of the soy bean. Feeding experiments have been made with alfalfa hay, soy beans and Kafir-corn
for feeding dairy cows, fattening hogs and calves, and with skim-milk
for calves and for hogs.
Experiments have been made in keeping milk sweet during the
summer, with the result that during the hot weather of July and
August we were able to deliver milk sweet to the creamery when
forty-eight hours old, with an equipment that can be afforded by any
farmer in the state. As rapidly as results have been secured, the information has been published, both through the newspapers and
through bulletins. Three pamphlet bulletins have been issued by
the Farm Department during the year, with a total of 63,000 copies,
The department has also published eleven press bulletins, with a
total of 86,000 copies.
Mr. F. C. Burtis, assistant in field and feeding experiments, was
granted, at his own request, a leave of absence from February 1, to
June 30, and Mr. J. G. Haney took up this line of work.
BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT .— The plant-breeding experiments mentioned in the report for the previous year have been continued. The
crossed wheat of 1898 produced 3681 grains. These grains were
planted in small pots, and afterwards transplanted in the fall. The
young plants were surrounded by a zone of wheat for protection.
The severe winter killed many of the plants. The survivors were
carefully tended and produced a fair crop of seed. Considerable
* Out of Print.
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difficulty was experienced in combating the chinch-bug. Kerosene
emulsion was freely used and the wheat was saved, though more or
less injured, These seeds will be planted in the fall of 1899 and will
be used to form the basis for selection in the future.
In the spring of 1898 a number of samples of corn were obtained
from growers in various parts of the state. The Chemical Department determined the amount of nitrogen in these samples and thirtythree were chose for planting. In order to induce variation, these
were crossed with each other in as many combinations as time and
help would permit. Since some sorts are more suited to upland conditions and others to bottom land, a part of each sample was planted
on an upland field on the College farm, and a part on rented town lots
in bottom land. The results of the crosses were planted in a like
manner this spring, 279 samples upon the College farm and 302
samples upon the bottom land. These will be self-fertilized this
summer, a part of each sample with pollen from the same stalk, and
a part with pollen from different stalks of the same sort.
In addition to the experiments in plant breeding, the department
maintains a grass garden, in which our native and introduced grasses
are studied with a view of adapting them to our conditions. A number of plants, such as millet, oats, and buckwheat, which have been
sent out by the United States department of agriculture, have been
sown, and their adaptability to our conditions observed.
C HEMICAL D EPARTMENT .—In the work in connection with seed
breeding, a series of analyses have been made to see if there is a relation between the specific gravity and the percentage of protein.
These experiments have not yet reached definite results, and will be
continued. Other work in this general line is in progress in cooperation with the Botanical Department. The work on soil moisture has
been continued, and also that upon sugar beets, in cooperation with
the farmer of the state. Some soil analyses are in progress designed
to show the effect of the continuous culture of wheat as compared
with a rotation of crops. Analyses incident to digestion experiments are also in progress, and it is designed to give this feature of
our investigations greater prominence in the future.
HORTICULTURAL AND E NTOMOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT .—The department has given much attention to the matter of fruit improvement.
So broad is the field that the work has been pursued along several distinct lines. The seeds obtained by crosses made last year among the
peaches and cherries have been planted. Other crosses have this
year been made on plums and cherries, the effort being to secure the
blending of good qualities of distinct varieties. Seeds of many varie-
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Report of the Council.
[XII An. Rep.
ties of the sand plum have been collected and planted, with the aim
of improving the quality of the fruit by cultivation, crossing, and
selection, until valuable varieties are produced for the arid portions of
the state. Efforts have been in progress for two years to improve the
strawberry by cultivation and bud selection.
We have endeavored to enlist the interest of the fruit-growers of
the state in the matter of fruit improvement. They have been urged
to observe the conduct of promising seedlings and bud variations. A
generous response has been given. In consequence we have received
many of these new fruits, to be tested; and the fruit-growers themselves are testing. On the whole, our work in fruit improvement has
been most satisfactory.
We have to report a very successful year’s work in the investigation of the preservation of fruits and vegetables by cold storage. The
experiments begun last year have been carried out. A bulletin giving
the results of the same was issued in April. A test of methods of
growing celery has been carried on, and the results obtained were published in a press bulletin on “Celery.”
Several methods of cultivating and mulching potatoes have been
under test and valuable results were obtained. These are on file, but
lack of funds has prevented publication. Methods of orchard cultivation and crops for green manuring the soil of the orchard have
been under investigation. A partial report of results was made in a
press bulletin on "Orchard Cultivation," Variety tests have been
continued in orchard and small fruits, Variety tests in vegetables
have proved year after year more unsatisfactory and impracticable and
have, therefore, been largely abandoned.
The Entomological Department has continued the investigations
as outlined in the preceding report. During the year the experiments with the potato-stalk weevil were brought to a close, and the
results published in Bulletin No. 82. The alfalfa worm and the hornfly have, for the past season, received considerable attention, with the
view of devising better methods for their control. In the experiments
with the latter, tests were made of the various proprietary mixtures
offered for sale upon the market; original mixtures were devised and
tested, and a thorough trial made of miscellaneous remedies recommended in various publications, more particularly in reports from
other stations. A bulletin embodying the results of this experiment
will soon be forthcoming.
V ETERINARY DEPARTMENT .—The work of the Veterinary Department consisted in a continuation of experiments begun in 1897–98,
viz.: (1) Tuberculin tests of the College herd and newly acquired
milch cows. (2) Press bulletins issued on the following subjects:
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Blackleg, tapeworm in sheep; actinomycosis; diarrhea in calves;
swine-plague. (3) Roup in poultry and remedies for same. (4)
Bacteriological examinations of milk and well-water. (5) Protective
inoculation against swine-plague. (6) Protective inoculation against
blackleg in cattle.
Blackleg vaccine has been prepared in the veterinary laboratory
and over 30,000 double doses of vaccine have been distributed among
stockmen. This was sufficient to protect from 30,000 to 60,000 head
of cattle against the ravages of blackleg, which disease has been found
to be alarmingly prevalent in nearly every county in the state. Extensive mortality statistics have been gathered, and from these a conservative estimate places the saving to cattle owners by the use of
Experiment Station vaccine at the figure of $60,000 (during the last
six months). The object of the experiment is to discover the best
methods of manufacturing reliable vaccine, the proper method and
place of inoculation (which latter has been found to be of great importance ), whether single or double vaccine is to be preferred, etc.
An extensive bulletin on the subject of blackleg will soon be published.
The Staff.
Secretary Graham, after many years of service, severed his connection with the Station and College at the close of the summer vacation, to accept a position in the Central Business College, at Sedalia,
Mo. Professor Faville, of the department of horticulture and entomology, left at the Christmas holidays to accept the presidency of the
National Farm School, at Doylestown, Pa. Mr. F. C. Burtis, assistant
in feeding and field work, retired on leave of absence in January, and
was succeeded by Mr. J. G. Haney as acting assistant in the same
work. Mr. George L. Clothier, assistant botanist, spent about four
months in the winter and spring in Cornell University in the study of
seed breeding, during which time Mr. J. M. Westgate served as acting
assistant botanist.
General Statement.
During the last year the Station has become much more thoroughly
known, not only in this state, but in the country at large. This has
been due, largely, to the diversification of our publications. It is the
constant effort of the staff to make its investigations not only rigorously accurate scientifically, but to choose such lines of investigation
as will lead to results of practical benefit to the farmer. Some of
these investigations will require years for fruition; others are expected
to yield immediate returns. That our efforts are appreciated is shown
by numerous commendatory letters received, as well as by the comments of the press.
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The Station mailing list has increased greatly during the last year,
and ought to increase much more, but this increase carries with it a
corresponding diminution in the funds available for experimentation.
There is also a constant growth in the Station correspondence, which
necessarily requires the diversion of funds to the payment of clerical
force. This correspondence now amounts to about 10,000 letters per
annum. Applications for advice, information and publications are
received from all parts of the United States and not infrequently from
foreign countries. Thus far, while not advertising to do so, we have
been sending our bulletins to all applicants, regardless of residence.
The Station being supported by a federal appropriation, it seems fitting that no citizen of our country should be denied the benefit of its
results.
Respectfully submitted.
T HOS . E. WILL .
H. M. COTTRELL .
A. S. HITCHCOCK .
J. T. WILLARD .
P AUL F ISCHER .